Zearalenone

Zearalenone is an estrogenic fusariotoxin that binds to estrogen receptors, including the 17β-estradiol-specific subtype^[1]. When the Zearalenone is intaken by mammals, the ketone group at the C-8′ position of Zearalenone may reduce and transform to α- and β-zearalenol^[2]. Zearalenone elicits multiple toxic outcomes, including genotoxic, immunotoxic, teratogenic, carcinogenic, hematotoxic, and hepatotoxic effects.^[3].

In vitro, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) treated with 10μM Zearalenone and cultured for 72h at 37°C and 5% CO₂ exhibited a 45.4% reduction in proliferation compared with stimulated controls (P<0.001)^[4]. Treatment of the Concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated Isa Brown chicken splenic lymphocytes with Zearalenone at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25μg/mL consistently increased the IL-2 levels above those measured in the ConA-only stimulated cells^[5].

In vivo, in mature female Balb/c mice, a single oral dose of Zearalenone (40mg/kg bw) significantly reduced total cholesterol, high density lipids (HDL), low density lipids (LDL), triglycerides, total protein, albumin, total count of white blood cells (WBCs), immunoglobulin profile (Ig A and Ig G) and T-cells subtypes (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD56⁺)^[6]. Daily oral gavage of 3mg/kg Zearalenone to female Wistar rats for 28 days significantly reduced the number of plaque-forming B cells producing IgM antibodies against sheep red blood cells (SRBC)^[7].

References:
[1] Bulgaru CV, Marin DE, Pistol GC, et al. Zearalenone and the Immune Response. Toxins (Basel). 2021;13(4):248.
[2] Han X, Huangfu B, Xu T, et al. Research Progress of Safety of Zearalenone: A Review. Toxins (Basel). 2022;14(6):386.
[3] Rogowska A, Pomastowski P, Sagandykova G, et al. Zearalenone and its metabolites: Effect on human health, metabolism and neutralisation methods. Toxicon. 2019;162:46-56.
[4] Marin DE, Taranu I, Burlacu R, et al. Effects of zearalenone and its derivatives on porcine immune response. Toxicol In Vitro. 2011;25(8):1981-1988.
[5] Wang YC, Deng JL, Xu SW, et al. Effects of zearalenone on IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ mRNA levels in the splenic lymphocytes of chickens. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012;2012:567327.
[6] Abbès S, Salah-Abbès JB, Ouanes Z, et al. Preventive role of phyllosilicate clay on the Immunological and Biochemical toxicity of zearalenone in Balb/c mice. Int Immunopharmacol. 2006;6(8):1251-1258.
[7] Hueza IM, Raspantini PC, Raspantini LE, et al. Zearalenone, an estrogenic mycotoxin, is an immunotoxic compound. Toxins (Basel). 2014;6(3):1080-1095.

Zearalenone是一种雌激素样镰刀菌毒素，可与包括17β-雌二醇特异性亚型在内的雌激素受体结合^[1]。哺乳动物摄入后，Zearalenone分子C-8′位的酮基被还原，生成α-和β-玉米赤霉烯醇^[2]。Zearalenone具有遗传毒性、免疫毒性、致畸性、致癌性、血液毒性及肝毒性等多种有害作用^[3]。

在体外，以10μM的Zearalenone处理人外周血单核细胞（PBMC），37°C、5%CO₂培养72h后，PBMC增殖能力较刺激对照下降45.4%（P<0.001）^[4]。用0-25μg/mL的Zearalenone处理刀豆蛋白A（ConA）刺激的Isa Brown鸡脾淋巴细胞，可显著提高IL-2水平，高于仅ConA刺激组^[5]。

在体内，成熟雌性Balb/c小鼠一次性灌胃40mg/kg的Zearalenone后，血清总胆固醇、HDL、LDL、甘油三酯、总蛋白、白蛋白、白细胞总数、IgA、IgG及CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD56⁺ T细胞亚群均显著下降^[6]。雌性Wistar大鼠每日灌胃3mg/kg的Zearalenone，连续28天，显著减少产生抗绵羊红细胞 IgM抗体的溶血空斑形成B细胞数^[7]。